LAS VEGAS, NV – Man, do I love Vegas. I love the cheesiness, the non-stop party and the promise of naughtiness around every corner. I used to get there 3 times a year back when I was a Californian but, sadly, now only make it there about once every two years or so (including one trip to have my wedding vows renewed by Elvis….but that’s a different story). After a few days, though, even I can use a break from the extreme Vegasness of it all, and that’s where Vdara comes in.

Why? As much as I love the chaos of the casino floor, there is something to be said about just being able to go to your room when you enter a hotel instead of running the gauntlet of slot machines and gaming tables on your way to the elevator. Vdara does not have a casino, but what it does have are well-appointed suites, with dark, metropolitan furnishings, a kitchen, a dining table and even a washer and dryer. Kind of like your own little purpose-built Tribeca apartment in Sin City. Last visit, we had a City Corner suite (pictured below) and never wanted to leave the room such was the comfortable opulence and the fantastic views offered by the room. For those hours when you’re feeling too lazy (or hungover) to venture far from your base, Vdara has some pretty good amenities: a lovely pool, salon, spa, fitness center, and smoothie bar. And the service is consistently friendly and professional. You’ll want to do your big eating and drinking elsewhere (there’s a nice low-key bar, though not much else on offer at the hotel). But this is a fantastic hideaway for those hours when you may want to leave Vegas behind…..and, if you’re a big casino buff, you can calm your gambling jones by visiting the neighboring Cosmopolitan or Aria.

A corner of very large bathroom, City Corner Suite at Vdara Hotel & Spa (photo by Tony Byers)

My one small complaint: though just a short distance from the Strip, City Center (where Vdara is located) is a little hard to reach by foot from Las Vegas Boulevard. You have to navigate through The Cosmopolitan and then sort out the best way to safely traverse pedestrian-unfriendly Harmon Avenue. Or, you can spend about 15 minutes working your way through the guts of the Bellagio to reach the short walkway between the hotels. This isn’t necessarily the fault of Vdara – the city of Las Vegas has made walking the Strip a real pain in the ass as it has sought to ease the chronic automotive congestion along its main drag. But, ahhhh…..the trek is so worth it if you are – like me – a real hotel aficianado.

What is the little thing that makes it worth a stay? Quiet luxury, within a stone’s throw of Las Vegas debauchery.